Last year, the European version of Transit Connect Wagon, known as Tourneo Connect, earned a five-star rating from the European New Car Assessment Program, the highest possible score from the consumer advocacy group.

The Transit Connect Wagon, available in five-passenger and seven-passenger versions in North America, became available earlier this year.

Transit Connect Wagon’s driver and passengers are protected by its body structure, more than half of which is built with high-strength and ultrahigh-strength steels, including 16-percent boron steel, according to Ford. The vehicle features driver and passenger side airbags for front-row occupants, as well as side curtain airbags for all seating rows.

The vehicle also has driver-assist features such as a rear-view camera and forward- and rear-sensing systems.

A story from the March 31 edition of Tire Business pointed out that the major auto makers’ new global vans, often referred to as “Euro vans,” feature extended roof heights and multiple wheelbases, which yield larger cargo space than the typical commercial van American consumers are familiar with.

However, while this widespread change brings with it measurable advances in efficiency and cargo flexibility, it also introduces potential problems in tires in terms of product availability and load-range issues, since most of the new vans are fitted at OE with higher load-range “C”-spec, or European-spec tires.